In any negotiation, it is important to understand what your counterpart really wants. Take this scene from HBO’s Rome, Season II, Episode 3.

Cassius: Ha ha ha.. that’s very good. So, if we could return to the subject of money. Please bear in mind, your excellency, that those who help us now will have good friends in Rome when Marc Anthony, the traitor, is deposed. Very good friends. It’s only a matter of time. With or without your help, we shall raise an army. We shall. Anthony’s head will rot on a spike.

Vésir: There are Roman women who are fucked by baboons.

Cassius: Excuse me?

Vésir: I have heard that there are shows where such things can be seen.

Cassius: .. Ahh, well, they’re not so much shows, really, they’re more of a punishment.

Vésir: I should like to see that. We do not have such in Bithynia.

Cassius: I should imagine it’s simply a matter of training the baboon..

Vésir: We have no baboons here. No apes of any kind.

Cassius: Ah, I.. I wasn’t aware of that. As I said, those who help us now..

Vésir: Yes. You want my money to raise an army. I want to see a Roman woman fucked by baboons.